Grow habitat for pollinators in your own backyard
August 10, 2020
By Brita Olson When you imagine what “habitat” looks like, what comes to mind? For me, it is easy to picture the forested mountains and numerous rivers and streams of Sanders County, which many fish and wildlife species call home. However, for many pollinator species, you do not have to look any further than your […]
Streamside revegetation efforts in the Bull River continue
July 19, 2020
By Brita Olson, Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group Every spring after the snow melts off in the valley, I make my way to the Bull River to check on the progress of ongoing revegetation efforts. Accessing the river by land is often a bit of a trek, as I have to cross stream adjacent wetlands […]
Sanders County Pollinator Initiative
June 10, 2020
The Conservation Districts (Green Mountain Conservation District and Eastern Sanders County Conservation District) want to attract more beneficial pollinators to our county, but we need your help. You can participate in the pollinator initiative and receive FREE SEED for plots up to 2,500 square feet! We have pollinator seed mix complete with beautiful flower species, […]
Local watershed partners plan for a busy year
February 6, 2019
Published in the Sanders County Ledger on February 7, 2019. Photo: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries biologist Jason Blakney observes past restoration project completed in 2007. Large wood structures on the left bank and fencing around streamside plantings on the right bank are visible under mid-winter snow. Local land managers, fish biologists, watershed workers and […]
Revegetation is an ongoing effort
December 27, 2018
The end of each year often provides opportunity for reflection on past work and achievements, while the start of a new year fuels the generation of lofty goals. A large accomplishment in 2018 for the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group, Green Mountain Conservation District, and partners was completing final implementation of the largest revegetation project […]
Spring maintenance and planting in the Bull River
June 30, 2018
This May and June, partners were actively working in the Bull River drainage to continue revegetation efforts along the mainstem. Working with the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group, Kootenai National Forest, and Montana Conservation Corps (MCC), the Green Mountain Conservation District helped plant over 1,000 trees and shrubs. Additional work included monitoring the condition of […]
Watershed Restoration Planning
April 16, 2018
A Watershed Restoration Plan is an important tool for identifying and prioritizing the work necessary to improve water resources in a particular watershed. It provides a step-by-step framework for connecting watershed restoration projects (i.e. re-vegetation efforts, channel reconstruction, stream restoration or enhancement, etc) to the resources needed to carry them out (financial, technical, or volunteer resources). The primary goals of […]
Thompson River Watershed Restoration Plan completed!
March 15, 2018
The Thompson River Watershed Restoration Plan was finalized March 2018! Access it here: Thompson River Watershed Restoration Plan (2018) While the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group (LCFWG) sponsored the development of the Thompson River Watershed Restoration Plan, the overall goal for this plan was to incorporate the perspectives and priorities of stakeholders (people with interest or concern […]
Roots: Bringing back the Bull River
February 2, 2018
Today, the Bull River is lacking in native shrubs and trees along its river banks. Loss of riparian forest, modified hydrology and highly competitive reed canarygrass limit the natural regeneration of other species. A healthy river is lined with diverse vegetation which has varied root systems that hold streambanks intact (in addition to providing important […]
Vermilion River Restoration
December 31, 2017
The Vermilion River represents the single largest Bull Trout spawning stream in more than 100 miles of the mainstem Lower Clark Fork River drainage and is also a stronghold for westslope cutthroat trout. Historically, the river has been impaired by upstream clear-cutting and significant mining activity, which has decreased the stability of this drainage. In […]